University of Utah eliminates more than 80 academic programs 

University of Utah is eliminating over 80 academic programs, including degrees in modern dance and mining engineering, to reallocate $19.5 million toward high-demand fields such as artificial intelligence, nursing, and data science. 

This decision was partially driven by House Bill 265, a new state law requiring Utah’s public institutions to prioritize workforce readiness and student employability. 

University of Utah is one of eight colleges and universities in the Beehive State that developed restructuring plans to meet the law’s demands.

Notable cuts at the University of Utah — the state’s flagship research school — include a master’s in educational psychology, doctoral in theatre, bachelor’s in German teaching, master’s in modern dance, minors in Russian teaching, and specialized degrees like a Ph.D. in Middle East Studies, according to university documents. 

Some programs were restructured rather than entirely eliminated, and everything from undergraduate studies to PhD programs were targeted. 

The reinvested funds will expand on nursing, AI programs, data science, biomedical engineering and interdisciplinary biotechnology initiatives, among other fields, according to campus leaders. 

The eliminated programs are part of an ongoing effort at the school beyond the law’s mandate to increase efficiency, campus spokeswoman Rebecca Walsh told The College Fix.

“Academic Affairs leaders have been reviewing low enrollment courses and programs over the past year-including those that have enrolled or graduated between 0 and 15 students annually over the past eight years,” Walsh said via email. 

“We are always looking for ways to do things smarter and more efficiently, while being responsive to meeting the needs of our students, the demands of the state’s businesses and workforce, and guidance provided by the Utah Legislature and Utah System of Higher Education,” she said.

Addressing potential backlash, Walsh clarified programs like theater and public administration aren’t vanishing entirely—just low-enrollment specialties. Continuing options remain, such as broader theater degrees and a restructured Master of Public Administration, she said.

Supporters of the law say it is a forward-thinking step to align higher education in Utah with workforce needs, arguing House Bill 265 requires data-driven decisions.

Critics argue eliminating the programs hurt intellectual diversity, academic freedom, and long-term innovation, arguing the cuts prioritize economic pragmatism over the broader value of liberal arts education.

Signed into law by Republican Gov. Spencer Cox early in 2025, it requires Utah’s eight public institutions to reallocate budgets over three years — 30% by fiscal 2026, 70% by 2027, and 100% by 2028 — to prioritize workforce readiness and student completion rates. 

Gov. Cox’s office did not respond to requests for comment from The College Fix.

University of Utah President Taylor Randall, in a June 6 presentation to the Utah Board of Higher Education, framed the changes as an acceleration of existing transformations.

“With the urgency of the legislation, we reap the benefits of the acceleration of some of the change processes we have already implemented,” Randall had said. 

Provost Mitzi Montoya echoed this sentiment in her presentation, noting, “The impact of this legislation is significant, but our strategic reinvestment plan is designed to ensure Utah has the highly educated workforce and innovation capacity needed to meet the demands of a rapidly changing global economy.” 

In a July 9 memo, Montoya told academic leaders the process involved “careful consideration and consultation” with “teach-out” plans for affected students.